Bengals clear Darqueze Dennard to practice

The Bengals have cleared CB Darqueze Dennard to resume practicing with the team.

Dennard, who had been dealing with a left knee injury for the entire offseason, remains on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, but he may now practice without counting against the 53-player roster limit for a period of up to 21 days. The team may choose to activate Dennard to the roster at any time during the 21-day period.

The timing of this could not be better. Just this week the Bengals have learned that starting cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson III will each miss a few weeks with injuries they suffered this past Sunday. With both of them out, B.W. Webb, Tony McRae and Torry McTyer figured to be the starting trio.

Adding Dennard back into the mix should lighten the blow for now, but he still has to be activated. That could come as early as this week.